Kenyan athletes for Penn Relay Championships

Collins Omae sprints on the Moi International Sports Centre track during a past training session. PHOTO | FILE |

What you need to know:

  • Kenya’s men and women’s 4x400 metres and 4x100m teams left the country last night for the championship. Kenya last competed in the championship in 2015.

Kenya makes her first appearance in fours year at the 125th edition of USA Penn Relay Championships starting Thursday in Philadelphia.

Kenya’s men and women’s 4x400 metres and 4x100m teams left the country last night for the championship. Kenya last competed in the championship in 2015.

The team, handled by former 400m champion Vincent Mumo and George Macharia, returns to the championship that has also attracted sprints giants Jamaica as they look to qualify for the World Championships slated from September 28 to October 6 in Doha, Qatar. The Kenyan teams missed out on qualifying for the World Relay Championships due May 11-12 in Yokohama, Japan.

Athletics Kenya Secretary-General Susan Kamau also named a squad of three sprinters for the Mauritius International Meeting scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Former national champions Aaron Koech, Alphas Kishoyian, Collins Omae, former national junior champion Alex Sampao and Jared Momanyi made the 4x400m squad.

National 400m champion Maximilla Imali highlights women’s 4x400m team that also has newly-crowned Africa Under-20 400m champion Mary Moraa, Maureen Thomas, Joan Cherono, Gladys Nthenya and Veronica Mutua.

Former 100m national champion and record holder Mike Mokamba, Michael Ngugi, Walter Moenga, Stephen Barasa and Elijah Onkware make the men’s 4x100m team.

African Games 100m silver medallist Eunice Kadogo, Freshia Mwangi, Evangeline Makena and Diana Chebet form the women’s 4x100m team.

Relay teams can qualify to Doha in one of two ways. First, the first eighth-placed teams (12 in the Mixed 4x400m) at the 2019 IAAF World Relays get to qualify.

Secondly, team that will be ranked among the best with respect to time at the end of the qualification period will fill the remaining places (eight or four) for the Doha Championships.